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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Record number of Montagu's harriers breed in Westhoek thanks to mouse peak and drone

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A record 29 pairs of Montagu's harriers bred in Belgium's Westhoek region this year, a significant increase attributed to a mouse population boom.
  • Nature group 'De Kerkuil' used a drone with a thermal camera to locate nests, accelerating the monitoring process and helping farmers avoid nesting sites.
  • At least 70 young harriers hatched, with estimates suggesting over 100 successfully fledged, despite 7 nests failing.

Belgium's Westhoek region has witnessed an unprecedented breeding season for Montagu's harriers, with a record 29 pairs establishing nests this year. This surge is primarily linked to an exceptional peak in the local mouse population, which serves as the harriers' main food source.

It is mainly a peak in the mouse population. That goes in trough and peak years. This year is a peak year.

— Wim BovensWim Bovens of Nature Group De Kerkuil explains the reason behind the high number of breeding cases.

Naturwerkgroep 'De Kerkuil' (The Barn Owl Nature Group) employed a drone equipped with a thermal camera to efficiently locate the elusive birds and their nests. This technological advancement significantly sped up the monitoring process, which traditionally requires hours of observation. The harriers, unlike some other ground-nesting birds, are not easily disturbed by drones, allowing for close-range monitoring.

And those harriers just go where the mice are. Is that in Norway, they go to Norway. Is that in Spain, they go to Spain.

— Wim BovensWim Bovens explains the migratory behavior of the harriers based on food availability.

The drone's assistance extended beyond mere observation; it facilitated crucial coordination with local farmers. Montagu's harriers nest on the ground, making them vulnerable to agricultural activities like mowing and harvesting. By identifying nest locations, the group could inform farmers, enabling them to avoid these sensitive areas. Farmers who temporarily could not use certain fields received compensation from the Agency for Nature and Forest.

The Montagu's harrier is a very mysterious species. They are very difficult to track down.

— Wim BovensWim Bovens describes the challenges of monitoring the harrier population.

While 7 of the 29 nests failed, the group documented at least 70 young harriers fledging. Based on an average of 5 young per successful nest in 22 cases, the total number of fledged young is estimated to exceed 100. This successful breeding season highlights the impact of favorable environmental conditions and innovative monitoring techniques on wildlife conservation efforts.

Thanks to the drone, it went much faster this year. We are also lucky that the species is not easily disturbed by such devices.

— Wim BovensWim Bovens highlights the effectiveness and low impact of using a drone for monitoring.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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